Blurb:
The only problem drama teacher Paiton Underwood had was
deciding what to do for the school’s fiftieth anniversary Christmas production.
Until a class altercation left her with a broken arm—and a new job.
Fraser Quirk’s first day as headmaster went from pretty good
to downright disastrous in seconds. Now he’s suspending students, and dealing
with an injured teacher. Not to mention the threat of school closure—of the
permanent kind.
She thinks he’s bossy and overbearing. He thinks she’s a
control freak. Can the schools journey to Christmas bring healing, love and a
hope for the future?
Meet the hero:
Tell us your name and a little bit about yourself –
I’m Fraser Quirke. I’m as old as
my tongue and a little older than my teeth as my Gran used to say, tall enough
to reach things off the top shelf easily. I’m an art teacher and also the
headmaster of the local secondary school. That’s a mixed school for children
aged 11 to 16 (school years 7-11). Although I do want to add a 6th
form for those aged 17-18 (school years 12-13).
Where do you live, and why do you choose to live there?
Right now I live in Headley
Cross, Berkshire, England. That’s where my new job is.
What is a quirk of your personality that people don't know?
Rolls eyes. My name… I’m a softy
when it comes to animals. But don’t tell anyone that. Ever.
Who chronicled your story, and why do you think he/she picked you?
Clare Revell. I think she picked
me because I’m very much like a headmaster she had in her younger days. I
certainly share one or two traits with him, and I’d like to think I’d react the
same way if a pupil ever pointed out I’d said something wrong in a school
assembly.
Yes, she really went there.
Prompted the poor man to make a public apology in a whole school assembly. He’d
told the Lower School —years 7-9—that St Paul wrote the Acts of the Apostles.
She pointed out in the corridor afterwards that it was actually Luke who wrote
that. He asked her to prove it. She asked if he had a Bible and then showed
him. But then she used to correct her RE teacher all the time. So glad she
wasn’t in one of my classes.
What obstacles did you overcome in order to reach your
happily-ever-after?
Well, without giving away
spoilers, several detentions, several school inspections and a teacher who
wasn’t what he claimed to be. Oh and fire practices.
Tell us about your special lady. What makes her so special?
Paiton Underwood. She’s just
charming, puts others first, but says what she means.
The first time you saw your special person, what did you think? Was it
love at first sight or did he/she have to grow on you?
Let’s just say she threw herself
at me. No doubt she’d put it differently. He laughs. She also insulted me, so
no, not love at first sight.
Extract:
Paiton spun around and presented the kid her best glower.
“You have twenty seconds to explain.”
“Jack annoyed me so I shoved him. So what?”
“I didn’t hear a peep out of Jack. I would keep you in at
break, but lunchtime will have to do instead.”
“But, miss, I have football practice.”
“But miss, nothing.” Paiton frowned in exasperation. “I will
inform Mr. Scott as to why you won’t be there. Go and join the others, and then
find me at lunch.” She shook her head and followed the sulky teen into the
hall.
A couple of the boys chanted, “Sam’s in trouble, Sam’s in
trouble.”
The whole class sniggered.
Paiton silenced them with a glare. “And to think you lot are
the eldest in the school and meant to be an example. I’m ashamed of the lot of
you.” She thought quickly. “I was only keeping Sam in at lunch, but as you all
find it so amusing, you can all stay behind after school tomorrow for an hour.”
No one dared say a thing as Paiton climbed the steps to the
stage and took the chair in the middle of the front row. She straightened the
scarf around her neck. “Now smile for the camera.”
Behind her came mutters and a scuffle. She began to turn,
but something shoved her violently and then she was falling off the stage. Stars
floated across her vision as she slammed onto the hard wooden floor. She
thought for an instant she heard something snap, but then blinding pain had her
clutching her right arm.
Voices called her name. “Miss Underwood?”
A pair of the bluest eyes she’d ever seen, set in the
sternest face she’d ever come across, came into focus in front of her. “Are you
all right?”
“I think…” She broke off. “I’m fine. Just landed awkwardly.”
She gasped as she sat up. “Just need to rest for a moment.”
****
Fraser helped the shaken woman to her feet and sat her on a
chair that a helpful teenager had found. She had no colour whatsoever and if
the way she was holding her arm was anything to go by, she was as far from
‘fine’ as it was possible to get. On the stage to his left, her class sat in
stunned silence.
Fortunately for Miss Underwood, although not for her class,
he’d arrived in time to witness the entire event. Including the boys whose
petty fight had started the incident. He pointed to the kid in the front row
wearing the badge saying Head Girl. “Sara, isn’t it?” As she nodded, Fraser
jerked his head to the main doors. “Please go and get the school nurse.”
“There’s no need,” the pretty teacher gasped.
“There is every need, Miss Underwood,” he said making sure
his tone was gentle. He glanced at the student. “You have my permission to run.
And fetch Mr. Page as well.”
“Yes, sir.” Sara ran across the hall and into the corridor
leading to the languages block. French and Spanish were on the ground floor,
English on the second.
He ran a stern gaze over the teenagers on the stage. “I’m Mr
Quirke, the new headmaster. Apart from the three boys responsible for this, I
want you all to line up by the door now. Once Mr. Page arrives you will go with
him and write a five hundred word essay on the correct way to behave in school.
You’ll hand the completed essay to him at the end of the lesson.”
The towering English teacher appeared beside him. “What
happened?”
Fraser filled him in quickly, along with the task he’d set
the children.
Mr. Page nodded and snapped his fingers at the class. “Off
you go, and if I hear a peep out of any of you, you’ll be in detention for a
week.” He glanced at Miss Underwood. “I’ll keep an eye on them.”
“Thanks,” she whispered.
Fraser turned to the three boys, all with beetroot faces,
looking as guilty as sin. “Go sit outside my office and wait for me.”
“Yes, sir.”
The student appeared with the school nurse.
“Really, I’m fine,” Miss Underwood protested. “I just need
to sit for a few more minutes.”
“You’ll let the nurse check you over.” Fraser looked at the
student. “Go join your form in Mr. Page’s classroom. He’ll tell you what the
assignment is.”
“Yes, sir.”
Fraser slid his hands into his trouser pockets as the nurse
checked over Miss Underwood. She was far more attractive than her photo in the
file had made her out to look. Despite having over forty-five staff files to
read, he kept coming back to hers. There was something about her... Her long
brown hair had been pulled into what the kids called a messy bun. It wasn’t
very professional, but it suited her.
The nurse rose. “I think it’s broken. We should send her for
an x-ray just to be on the safe side. Would you like me to call an ambulance?”
“Yes, please.”
“There’s really no need. I’m…” Miss Underwood groaned as she
moved her arm.
Fraser looked at the flimsy scarf around her neck. That
wouldn’t make a particularly good support. Instead, he pulled off his tie and
fastened a makeshift sling around her neck, sliding her right arm gently into
it. “You’re going to the hospital.”
“What about my classes?” Her eyes lost focus for a moment.
“We’ll manage today and get a sub in for tomorrow.”
She shook her head. “I’ll be in tomorrow.” She stood, more
than a little shaky.
Fraser eased her back into the chair. “Just sit there and
wait for the paramedics.”
“Bossy, aren’t you? I didn’t catch your name, though you
seem to know mine.”
He smiled. “I made it my business to know the names of all
my staff, Miss Underwood.”
“Your staff?” Her eyes rolled upwards, and losing any
residual colour, she toppled from the chair towards him.
https://www.amazon.com/Journey-Christmas-Holiday-Extravaganza-ebook/dp/B07JG31FZD
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